Apparatus for washing grain.



No. 650,495. Patented May 29, I900.

E. S. SPENCER. APPARATUS FOR WASHING GRAIN.

(Application filed Aug. 7, 1899'. v

' 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

ms PETERS on, FHOTO-LITHOUWASHVNG on n c No. 650,495. r Patented May 29,I900. E. S. SPENCER.

APPARATUS FOR WASHING GRAIN.

(Application filed Aug. 7, 1899.) v (No Model'.) 2 Sheets-*Sheet 2.

' WWW WWW ' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST s. SPENCER, or LONDON, ENGLAND.

APPAeArue Foa'wAs'HiNo GRAIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 650,495, dated. May 29,1900.

Application filed Augnflt 7, 1899. Serial No. 7.86 438. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ERNEST SAMUEL SPEN- OER, a subject of the Queen ofGreat Britain, residing at London, England, have invented a new anduseful Apparatus for Washing Grain, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description, and for which I have made applications forpatents in Great Britain, No. 14,114, dated July 8, 1899, and No.14,375, dated July 12, 1899.

The object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for washinggrain; and I will first describe my invention as applied to theseparation of the germ from crushed maize or Indian corn. lVhole maizeor Indian corn is first crushed and then sieved to obtain an even grade.The meal and small-grade stuff are thereby removed from the larger-gradeparticles.

My invention consists in an apparatus comprising a trough through whichthe remaining larger-grade particles are passed, means arranged abovesaid trough for supplying a current of water thereto flowing in onedirection, and means arranged in said trough for gradually conveying thecrushed maize in a direction opposite or contrary to that in which thewater flows, whereby the crushed maize is well roused while undertreatment in the water, and the invention also comprises means formaintaining the water at a suitable level in the trough.

In the accompanying drawings,illustratin g my invention-,in the severalfigures of which like parts are similarly designated, Figure 1 is alongitudinal section of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a sectional end view ofFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of Fig. 1, showing one pair ofcrescent-shaped conveyor-blades in the horizontal trough. Fig. 4 is across-section of Fig. 1, showing one pair of blades to assist in thesuspension of the germ and lighter particles, as well as to assist inthe flow of the Water and of the germs or lighter particles carriedtherebyin a contrary direction to that of the crushed maize. Figsr5 and6 are separate views of one of each of said blades, and Fig. 7 is across-section of a modified form of trough.

In carrying my invention into effect I employ a trough a, which is fixedin a horizontal position'and is preferably of smaller secnaled inbearings 01 e.

of the latter.

tion at the lower part than at the upper part thereof. At. one end ofthis trough (Laud communicating therewith I arrange an inclined troughZ1. At the lower part of the horizontal trough a is arranged a conveyer,preferably formed of a number of crescentshaped blades 0', fixed to ashaft 0, passing at one end through a stuffing-box a and jour- Betweenthese ores cent-shaped blades 0 I preferably arrange other blades 0which are also fixed to the shaft 0 to assist in the suspension of thegerm and lighter particles, as well as to assist in the flow of thewater and of the germs and lighter particles carried by the water in acon trary direction to that of the crushed maize. The inclined trough bhas a screw or other conveyer f to carry the germ-freed crushed maizeout of the water and to drain the same,

finally delivering it to a suitable chute g.

The water is admitted by a pipe h, arranged above and at that end of thehorizontal trough a which adjoins the inclined trough b, and a plate 1'is fixed over the meeting ends of the conveyors c c f to receive thewater from the pipe h and to spread and direct it toward the overflow.This plate 11 also prevents any disturbance by the incoming water of thegerm-freed crushed maize near the point where it is being delivered tothe inclined trough b and conveyor f. At the overflow end ofthe-horizontal trough a is mounted an adjustable slide j, whereby theheight of the overflow can be adjusted.

A chute 7c and hopper k to supply the crushed maize to the horizontaltrough C6 are arranged at a suitable point along the length Theconveyer-shaft c is driven by means of a belt 0 passing around a pul leyc fixed on said shaft 0, and the worm f is driven by a belt f passingaroundapulley f fixed on the shaft f of said conveyer.

IO are thus separated from the crushed maize. The speed of the conveyersand the flow ofwater may be variedaccording to circumstances. Althoughin the above description I have referred only to the degerming of maize;it

' will be evident that the invention is equally applicable to thewashing of grain .and to making separations therefrom.

In separating or sizing wheat, barley, beans, or other cereals it isonly necessary to regulate the quantity and flow of water to suitrequirements-where the lighter grain can be carried with the water,while the heavier grain travels with the worm in the opposite direction.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patcut, is'

1: In an apparatus for washing grain, the 0 combination of a horizontaltrough, means for feeding the grain to said trough, means arranged abovesaid trough at the discharge r endthereof for supplying a current ofwater,

flowing in one direction, to said trough, a con- 3 5 veyer mounted insaid trough and adapted to givemotion to the grain in a directioncontrary to that in which the water flows, agitators carried by the saidconveyer-shaft, an

inclined trough communicating with the dis- 0 charge end of thehorizontal trough, and a conveyor in said inclined trough to raise thegrain out of the water .and'drain the same, r substantially as hereinset forth.

, '2. The combination of a horizontal trough,

means for feeding grain thereto, means for supplying a current of waterto said trough,

a conveyer mounted in said trough giving motion to the grain in adirection contrary to that inwhich the water flows, agitators carried bythe shaft of said conveyer, an inclined trough communicating with thedischarge end of the .horizontal trough, a con- 'veyer in-said inclinedtrough to raise the grain out of the water and drain the same, and aguard arranged beneath the water-supplyand over the meeting ends of saidtroughs to prevent the incoming water from disturbing the washed grainand to spread and direct the water toward the overflow end of thehorizontal trough, substantially as herein set forth.

3. In apparatus for washing grain, the combination of a horizontaltrough, means for feeding crushed maize or grain to said trough, meansfor supplying water to said trough, a conveyer mounted in said troughgiving motion to the crushed maize or grain in a contrary direction tothat in which the water flows, agitators carried by the saidconveyershaft, an inclined trough communicating with the grain-dischargeend of the horizontal trough, a conveyer in said inclined trough toraise the grain out of the water and drain the same, a guard over themeeting ends of the horizontal and inclined troughs to prevent theincoming water from disturbing the germ freed maize or Washed grain andto spread and direct the water toward the overflow, and an adjust-ableplate at the overflow end of the horizontal trough to regulate theheight of the overflow, substantially as herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in. presence of two witnesses.

ERNEST S. SPENCER.

Witnesses:

' B. J. B. MILLS,

CLAUDE K. MILLS.

